1. Being The Best We Can A self-evaluation and improvement process for libraries Melanie McCarten State Library of Victoria Euan Lockie ACIG

2. Origins

3. Objectives Provide tool to help libraries evaluate service quality & impact, & inform action plans Consolidate previous evaluation work: Collection audit Building audit Local history collection assessments LBC public library user survey

4. Project approach  Develop framework  Pilot  Review  Extended pilot  Review  Rollout

5. Pilot libraries

6. Three basic questions  How well are we doing?  How do we know?  What are we going to do now?

7. Framework  Provides criteria for evaluation 5 key result areas 3 themes for each key result area  Helps organise evidence

8. Providing gateways to information, learning & leisure 1.1 Sufficiency, range & suitability of resources 1.2 Arrangements for access 1.3 Staff knowledge of information tools & user support

9. Building individual skills, capability & wellbeing 2.1 Lifelong learning in the library context 2.2 Providing & promoting 21st century literacies 2.3 Encouraging a reading culture

10. Developing social capital 3.1 Welcoming civic space & sense of belonging 3.2 Supporting social connections & reaching out to communities 3.3 Working in partnerships

11. Demonstrating leadership 4.1 Leadership & innovation at all levels 4.2 Planning & community engagement 4.3 Building organisational capability through people

12. Designing, managing & improving systems & processes 5.1 Implementation of policies & procedures 5.2 Obtaining & using resources 5.3 Evaluation & continuous improvement

13. Self-evaluation steps  Decide scope  Orientation  Workshop – preliminary evaluation  Refine evaluation, gather evidence  Draft report  Peer review  Final report  Follow-up presentations  Implement improvements

14. Workshop

15. Star ratings Sector leading, world class Major strengths Important strengths, some gaps Satisfactory core service, weaknesses impact users Limited core services, significant user impact

16. Peer review

17. Outputs Documented assessment of services Improvement plan Report to stakeholders

18. Uses  External  Tell the library’s story to the community to the Board to Council  Internal  Engage staff  Plan service development new services priorities

19. Benefits Libraries Takes stock of performance Measures progress towards objectives Identifies key strengths Identifies areas for improvement Helps set action priorities Staff Increases service understanding Increases feeling of ownership Engagement in planning Professional development

20. Final thoughts A process, not an event Owned, not imposed An art, not a science Size doesn't matter Inclusive Effective

21. Questions? www.acig.com.au www.slv.vic.gov.au www.publiclibrariesvictoria.net.au